Wealth and glory seek stability

"I heard that my son-in-law is very influential in Xia Country now?" Tao Ran smiled, as calmly as if he was chatting casually.

"Yes, just tell me what you want." Jian Xi sneered inwardly, realizing her own value belatedly.

Tao Ran looked at his calm and collected daughter in front of him. Her face always kept a low profile, she acted properly and calculatedly, and the most difficult thing was that there was some chivalry in her words and deeds.

Looking at the two bastards below, he felt regretful. If only Jian Xi was a man, it would be great. He would be doing justice to his ancestors by entrusting such a huge family business to such a man.

"I want you to take your second brother to Xia Country, and some people from the clan will follow. You just need to say a few words to your son-in-law, and the Tao family will be able to gain a foothold in the capital."

Tao Ran expressed his plan. Judging from Xuanyuan Zhan's style of doing things, it was clear that the Xuanyuan Dynasty would not last long.

Their Tao family would definitely not serve as a whetstone. Although Gao Yunhuai's current reputation is not good, he holds real power. As long as Jian Xi can help say a few words, the Tao family's power can be divided into two. In this way, even if the Guangling branch is gone, the Tao family will still be there.

Jian Xi covered her mouth and said, "You think too highly of me. I am just a woman. How can I have such great ability to persuade my husband?"

Tao Ran thought that his bargaining chips were not enough. "In addition, a part of your mother's dowry has been used up for your eldest brother's wedding. I have divided the rest into two parts, one for you and one for your second brother. As your father, I did not add any dowry for your wedding, so I will make up for it this time. What do you think?" He looked at Jian Xi with hope.

Jian Xi averted her gaze and looked at Tao Lejiao who was kneeling. This man had a face somewhat similar to hers, but he did not have Tao Lechu's shrewdness or Tao Ran's smoothness and sophistication.

"What if I don't agree?"

Tao Ran leaned back slightly on the chair, calm and composed, "I know that you kidnapped Miss Lin."

Jian Xi's fingers hidden under her sleeves suddenly clenched, but she had a smile on her face. The expressions of the father and daughter were somewhat similar upon closer inspection, like wild beasts lurking in the woods, quietly watching their prey struggle. "Are you threatening me?"

Tao Ran regretted more than once that Jian Xi was not a man. Her personality was exactly like his own. With such a descendant, the family would surely prosper. What a pity...

"No, all my previous promises stand. I have been ill recently, and your two brothers have neglected you. I have already punished them. This is a private matter. It concerns the family, so I am begging you. This is a public matter. The two cannot be confused."

"Father, why bother saying more to her? As a daughter of the Tao family, it is her duty to serve the family. How can she refuse?" Tao Lechu shouted.

Seeing that he was not obedient even when tied up, Jian Xi punched him in the face, "I have tolerated you for a long time. You did such a beastly thing right after my mother passed away. You are unworthy of being a son. You are unfilial. Even if you had an affair, you should not have chosen such a vicious person. Her mother also harmed my mother's woman, causing shame to the family and causing the wife to divorce. It is unjust. How can such a fool like you still live in this world? If you abandon your family, you can't even compete with wild dogs for food in the outside world."

Jian Xi's words were extremely humiliating.

Tao Lechu's eyes were red and he wanted to get up while shouting.

"Shut up! If you dare to yell again, I will kick you out of the Tao family." Tao Ran said in a cold voice, scolding Tao Letu harshly. The aura of having been in a high position for decades was still there.

After Jian Xi cursed, she felt much better. It turned out that one cannot hold one's breath.

Walk back to your seat.

"I can indeed get the Tao family to settle down in another place, but I want to know what kind of help the Tao family can bring to me. I can't let my work be in vain." Jian Xi straightened his back and said it frankly.

Saibei is in need of people at this time, and the Tao family must have some trump cards. She will never do business at a loss.

Tao Ran didn't seem to notice anything wrong with Jian Xi's words, and the two of them sat in the hall discussing the division of interests.

The two brothers on the ground knelt and listened.

Tao Letu was resentful of Jian Xi for hitting him just now, and did not pay close attention to what was said.

After listening carefully, Tao Lejiao changed his opinion of this sister. At such a young age, she did not suffer any loss in the confrontation with her father.

You have to know that Tao Ran was able to rise step by step to the top position in a place like Jiangnan where officials and businessmen mix. His sophistication and experience are engraved in his bones.

The meeting between the two ended with Jian Xi making a huge profit from the Tao family.

Tao Ran promised that Jian Xi could own 20% of the shares in all the Tao family's businesses, on the condition that Jian Xi must protect the Tao family within her ability.

None of this mattered to her.

At least in Saibei for the past five years, Jian Xi has been the real local emperor, so her words still carry weight.

Tao Ran has obviously given up on Tao Lechu and placed all the hopes of his family on Tao Lejiao.

Jian Xi insisted that a deed must be signed, and that Tao Ran and Tao Lejiao both put their fingerprints on it and could not go back on their word.

Tao Lejiao muttered, "We are all family, why are we acting like we are on guard against thieves?"

Jian Xi bared her teeth, "Only black and white writing can provide evidence." She put away her own copy and looked at Tao Ran, "I will wait for another five days. After five days, my second brother and I will set off together."

Tao Ran nodded in agreement.

Seeing that the work was done, Jian Xi prepared to go out and return to her own cabin.

"The Liuli Courtyard has been cleaned up, you can move in there."

Jian Xi turned back slightly, "Thank you."

"You still don't want to call me father?" Tao Ran looked at Jian Xi's back, which was almost exactly the same as Lu Feiman when she was young.

Jian Xi was silent for a moment, and said something rather irrelevantly, "You don't look like you are bedridden." After saying that, she walked away without a trace of reluctance.

Tao Ran's back, which had been held together with great effort, finally bent. He was so angry that he spat out a mouthful of blood on the ground and his body went limp.

"Father!"

The day after Lu Feiman passed away, Tao Ran died.

Jian Xi knelt in the mourning hall, looking at the two tablets lined up side by side, feeling indescribable emotions in her heart.

Is she wrong?

For the first time, I doubted my judgment.

Before Tao Ran died, he had Tao Leying drink a bowl of poison and threw her body into a mass grave.

The family property was divided into three parts, and it was clearly written that each of the three children received a share.

Lu Feiman gave all the jewelry, calligraphy and paintings in her dowry to Jian Xi.

In the end, Jian Xi was the one who obtained the largest amount of family property.

Tao Lechu refused to accept it and looked at Jian Xi with gritted teeth. If it weren't for Mo Chuan's intimidation, he would have rushed forward to fight, "Who do you think you are? I don't know where you came from. Father was blinded by greed, so he gave the family property to you. Father was mad at you to death."

Tao Lejiao has already reported the mourning period and is busy at home taking care of all matters related to following Jian Xi to the north.

"No matter how little I am, I am still a human being, unlike you." Jian Xi looked at Tao Lechu coldly.

Jian Xi didn't want to argue with him and returned to her own yard.

Liuliyuan, as its name suggests, most of the decorations in the courtyard are made of colored glaze.

Jian Xi stroked a portrait in the center of the room. The woman was dressed in gorgeous clothes, looking elegant and graceful, with delicate features that revealed a sense of majesty. There was a line of small words next to her.

Beloved wife Lu Feiman, with the word "Tao Ran" written on the bright red seal.

This should be the painting that Tao Ran drew for Lu Feiman.

I heard that if one of a couple who have a deep relationship dies, the other will also die. This is due to their deep love.

"Sir, the housekeeper brought a letter, saying it was from the old master of the family." Chu Lu handed over a yellow envelope.

Jian Xi took it and opened it.

The handwriting on the paper was wild and there were only a few words.

【Xier

As a father, I know that my time is running out. Looking back on my life, the only person I feel guilty about is your mother. It was not until she passed away that I realized that family justice, power and status are far less important than a close friend. Don't blame me for using you. In the future you will understand that sometimes things in the world cannot be judged by right or wrong. I hope you can protect the Tao family for the sake of our sincere friendship.

Tao Ran

Jian Xi finished reading it quickly and couldn't help but laugh: "You are still a scholar, claiming that you don't understand it, one moment you are my father, the next moment you are mine."

There seemed to be something bulging in the envelope. Jian Xi reached out and pinched it out, and it turned out to be a turquoise tassel.

Suddenly he thought of something and took out the token representing his status as Minister of Agriculture from his bosom, and the ears of corn underneath were gone.

Jian Xi's fingers gradually tightened around the token, "What an old fox, he obviously knows everything."

After a moment, I suddenly felt relieved.

In terms of calculation, she lost.

She even believed that Tao Ran had plenty of ways to make her endure the discomfort and willingly help the Tao family, but he didn't have any of them. He insisted on playing the emotional card at the last minute and taking advantage of her temper. It turned out that the old ones were the most experienced.